How can I be more thankful and appreciative?

Question

Sometimes I get a poor me attitude and I get angry about things that have transpired in my life.

How can I be more thankful, greatful and appreciate life and "get over" myself that I am NOT the only one who has ever been hurt, and disappointed in life?

I want to be a blessing not a hindrance to others.

Answer 1

the best thing to do is tell people of what the lord has done for you. you said you have been hurt and disappointed in life.how did you get throught it? didnt the lord stand with you while you were going through? the bible says we overcome by our testimonies.tell someone else what the lord has done for you. think of others that are less fortunate then you.then you will truly feel greateful for all the blessings in your life.amen

Answer 2

Get out of yourself and do something nice for someone else.
Do at least one thing every day for someone else anonymously. For example make coffee for your partner before he wakes and don't ask for or expect a thank you.
Open doors for people. Clean up around the house for your roommate or partner. Empty the dishwasher. Let people in your lane while driving if it looks like they need over or have been waiting for a long time. Let people with one or two groceries go ahead of you in line if you have a cart full. These sound like trivial things but if you arnt looking for a "Thank you", or "Oh how sweet of you" than you are doing good things. You will be amazed at how these little things can make a huge impact on your life. Its a small way to show enormous gratitude for your life!

Answer 3

I know what you mean, but we are not perfect, and you are well on your way, deal with your anger, by letting it out, it's ok to cry if you need to, don't repress your feelings, or feel bad about them.. that is normal.. vent, and once you do, don't feel bad about it, be thankful that you were able to do so, and take a walk, look at the flowers, feel the sunshine on your face, and try to think that in 3 years, whatever made you sad or angry won't really matter anymore, or atleast it won't hurt. We live through tough times to appreciate the good ones.. we always tend to look up, at the people that don't have our problems.. we look at the rich, they can buy everything they want!! But what really satifies them?? You are human, it is normal that you get angry, or sad, think about this: bravery is not the absence of fear, it is having fear, and facing it.. it is the same thing with sin, in a way.. Sinning, and facing up to your sins, realizing that you are mortal, and truly repenting, is the key.. let your feelings go, and try to be positive.. Try to think of all your blessings and be happy about them, but don't repress your feelings, God knows they're there, you can't hide them.. and maybe, sometimes, when people realize that their problems are not only happening to them, they find comfort, and strength.. and think of you as their blessing

Answer 4

Applying the principle at Philippians 2:3, 4 will help. That text encourages you to do "nothing out of contentiousness or out of egotism, but with lowliness of mind [consider] that the others are superior to you." Thus you will be "keeping an eye, not in personal interest upon just your own matters, but also in personal interest upon those of the others."

I found the following information helpful for myself in dealing with others. There are times when we are stressed and say things we don't mean. I hope you will find some insight in these articles as well.
http://www.watchtower.org/library/w/2005/3/1/article_01.htm
http://www.watchtower.org/library/w/2002/11/1/article_01.htm

Answer 5

By thinking about and caring for others instead of thinking about yourself all the time. Also you could think about how things used to be way way back in the day and you can say we got it good today. But dont get to the point where you are doing for others all the time and you can do anything for yourself at all.

Try helping out with a shelter, community center, or a local church or nursing home or a childrens hospital.

Answer 6

Here's what I'd suggest . . .

Talk to your closest friends and family to help you identify certain markers or characteristics that you express that lead up to you having a "poor me" attitude or getting angry. For example, let's say that you are working towards getting angry about a situation and start expressing it by being sarcastic about the situation. Don't defend yourself when people are helping you identify these "markers." Unless they are not doing it in love, they are trying to help and by becoming a part of the process they can encourage you and help you on your path to bettering yourself. And pray about it. The Lord is always faithful in showing us what we need to know in order to grow.

Once you identify what actions (or even thoughts) that led up to the attitude, you can then be on the look out to prevent it. Allow those same friends and family to help you spot it, in case you aren't able to see it at first. Using the example, if you find yourself being sarcastic, mentally stop yourself and think "is this anger/poor me attitude where I want to go with this situation?" Turn to the Lord in prayer, asking Him to give you a pleasant attitude and to deal with the situation with grace and appreciation.

Then you get to work on being more grateful and thankful. Once you've learned to stop yourself from getting angry or having a poor attitude response, say one positive thing and (sincerely) thank one person in the bad situation.

It may seem like a lot of work, but with patience and determination you can correct the negative attitude and learn to be more thankful and grateful. Keep in mind, nobody is perfect. There will still be times where you will be angry, like everyone, and that's ok. Learning to deal with the majority of "life's occurrences" with a positive mindset will help you in the long run.

I know I've written a lot, but let me close with one last thing. The Lord knows your heart and can help you in any situation when you trust in Him. My favorite verse is Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." I pray that through Him you will be able to be a blessing to others and grow in your walk.

Answer 7

there are several ways...

1. go sit in a hospital waiting room for a day, look at those who are much worse than you. they are sick or have a sick child and no one has answers. then you get to go home and look at your family and yourself, healthy.

2. go to a nursing home for at least a few hours and you will see mother's that can't remember their own children, or their husbands.. father's that are bed-fast and haven't seen the sun shine or been outside in months, even years. then you get the privilege to walk outside to your car and go home.

3. look around, you will see people in a lot worse shape than you will ever be in.. a single mother raising 3 children on her own, without any support. a family that now lives under a bridge because the father lost his job and they never know where the next meal will be from. a mother with a handicapped child and the doctor's have given up hope. and tell the mother that the child isn't worth fixing! (that is a true story, my sister just lost her child because the doctor's said her daughter wasn't worth saving)


trust me, you will find out how blessed you are!

Answer 8

I feel the same way but buy expressing how you feel about things is how you you show the effect a situation had on you instead of bottling things up! Some times its OK to be selfish but other times you should stop and think of how many people are going thought the same thing you are and just do what you said "Get over your self"

Answer 9

think about all the gifts God has given you, not just the standard that everyone else lists but REALLY think about thegifts.
Example...you woke up to a brand new day, the breath in your lungs, your family, the times in the past God has kept you safe, if you were in a bad accident, the fact that you are still alive. Your sight, your hearing, music, beautiful country, freedom, health, clothes,, shoes, a job, your family, everything that you have that is good and helpful you should give thanks.

Answer 10

Really, we all have ample reason to overflow with thanks to Jehovah God every day. Even in the worst of times, there may be some simple things that provide moments of relief. A friend shows empathy. A loved one offers a reassuring touch. A good night’s rest proves restorative. A tasty meal quells pangs of hunger. A bird’s song, a child’s laugh, a glistening blue sky, a refreshing breeze—all of these and more may come our way in a single day. It is only too easy to take such gifts for granted. Are they not all worthy of a thank-you? They all come from Jehovah God, the Source of “every good gift and every perfect present.” (James 1:17) And he has given us gifts that dwarf these—life itself, for example. (Psalm 36:9) Further, he has given us an opportunity to live forever. In order to provide this gift, Jehovah made the supreme sacrifice by sending his only-begotten Son, “the one he was specially fond of.”—Proverbs 8:30; John 3:16.

18 How true, then, the psalmist’s words: “It is good to give thanks to Jehovah.” (Psalm 92:1) In a similar vein, Paul reminded the Christians in Thessalonica: “In connection with everything give thanks.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18; Ephesians 5:20; Colossians 3:15) Each of us might resolve to be more thankful. Our prayers need not consist solely of petitions to God regarding our needs. These are fine in their place. But imagine having a friend who only talked to you when he needed something from you. So why not pray to Jehovah just to thank and praise him? How such prayers must please him when he looks down on this ungrateful world! A secondary benefit is that such prayers may help us to focus on the positive aspects of life, reminding us of how blessed we really are.

Reasons for Being Thankful

3 It is to Jehovah God, our Creator and Life-Giver, that we owe our gratitude, especially as we consider some of the bounteous gifts he has showered upon us. Daily, we thank Jehovah that we are alive. (Psalm 36:9) Around us, we observe abundant evidence of Jehovah’s handiwork, such as the sun, moon, and stars. Our planet’s rich storehouse of life-sustaining minerals, the atmosphere’s finely balanced mixture of vital gases, and the intricate cycles in nature all testify to the debt we owe our loving heavenly Father.

If you would like further information or a free home Bible study, please contact Jehovah's Witnesses at the local Kingdom Hall. Or visit http://www.watchtower.org